Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-02-13
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .
A Custom that Was Introduced Into
California by spanish Fami-
lies frem Mexico.
Monterey August


Monterey August
Those who are acquainted with the
customs Of old Spanish towns IN Can,
fornin know what cascarones are, anu
are probably familiar with the ways OF
using them and the additional enjoy
ment they lend to oil dnncesw herethey
are used. To such of our readers VINO
are not well posted in the matter we
viii attempt to give few words IN eA-
PLANTATION.
The origin of the custom ofca5carone-
breaking is probably surrounded with as
impenetrable mystery rs the identity OF
the /" Man in the Iron Mask. IL was
brought to California by the early Span
ish families from Mexico, and up 70
within a few years past it was IN attfac-
tive feature of every dance given during
certain portion of the year, Cas-
carone season begins, according TO
custom, at II o'clock Christmas
night, and lasts till Ash "Wednesday,
| and any one of our odd citizens
can tell OF the grand times at cascarone
balls in the "fush days" when the
custom was at it's height. Dances were
OF almost nightly occurrence then, and
hundreds of dozens of cascarones were
broken in an evening, and many poor
family derived q handsome. income from
the manufacture and sale OF cascarones.
They sold at dollar dozen during the
early part of the evening. and in the
"wee sma' hours, when the commodity
became scarce, an ounce of gold dnst
has been known to be given for single
dozen.
Many interesting stories could be
told of the cascarone balls OF the past,
but only one will be mentioned as an
instance of the popularity OF this pecu-
liar feature of the balls. On one occa-
sion, at ball given at the residence OF
Don Jose Abrego, Pete Serrano, then a
muchacbo, was on hand selling the cas-
carones. A gentleman approached and
asked what he would take for his casca-
rones. cone dollar a dozen, was the
answer. Glow many have you? was
the next inquiry. "Forty dozen. "All
right. I'll take them" Taking the
basket he started down the hail, but
had not taken q dozen steps, when he
was surrounded by number Of young
ladies, and in a moment all hands were
diving into the basket, coming out
with double handfuls and crushing them
on his head, while he manfully strove
to return few of the compliments he
received. In five minutes not one of
the forty dozen cascarones remained
whole. The mOdus OpordRdi of cas-
carone-making is very simple, and
about as follows: Into an empty egg
shell-whole, except for an opening
in one end just large enough
to remove the original contents
is placed about a teaspoonful of finely
chopped paper of various bright colors
and gold tinsel; then the opening Is
neatly closed by FASTING a piece of
colored paper over it, and then the cas-
carone is all ready for use. In Mexico,
IN the good old times, cla7dO habja
auoho OrO-gold dust mixed with dia-
mond dust-was often used to ill tn
eggshells at the swell fnndlngoes given
by the old grandees. And II is don
occasionally nowadays by some OF the
wealthy old dons who wish to do tn
thing up in style. Another way OF
filling the shells was to use tinely-p)r
TUNED powder, and sometimes rare an
costly perfumes were used. Very ofte,
the Shells were beautifully decorated
and sometimes Manipulated. I'm Mon
tCrey, before the decline OF the custom
the shells were often colored in fancifu
designs, like Easter eggs, and at othei
times tastefully decorated with differen
colors Of paper. Chopped paper an,
tinsel were usually put in the shell,
but Oh more than one occasion gold
dollar pieces were used--One in eacl
shell. Spiced candy was often used
and sometimes powder and perfumery
Housewives religiously save the she'll
of all the eggs they use and put then
away until cascarone season come
around.
In cascarone-breaking it is not neces
sary that one should be acquainted l.
fact. it is a sort of "mashing' pro
ceeding all through. The act Of break
ing cascarone on another's head is e
be considered Il compliment by the r.
cipient, who is in honor bound to r.
turn it at the first opportunity. Th'
proper way to break them is to crus'
the she'll in the hand oyer the person
head. allowing its contents to fall OF
Tho head. In the excitement. how
ever, the shell is more frequently bro
ken on the head, regardless OF localit,
or force used, and is oftentimes suggest
i've of anything but amiable feeling o.
the part Of the bestower. When TN
ice is once broken by some alyen
turous maiden or plucky man the con
tagion soon spreads, and in y Yer.
short time everybody is chasing arOun
the room breaking cascaroncs inli.
crminately. and receiving them frou
all sides. These mock battles usual
occur between dances. Years ago
sort OF game was played in the broa';
ing Of oascarones. 1t was an object
like in the old game of "tag" -
break the last cascarone ON anotheI
The one breaking the last WAS above
the privilege OF asking the other ever
time they met How are my Chickens
and the other would be expected {
give them u present for the benefit q
the chickens-candy, etc. beiv
usually given. This was allowed ID b
kept up until the Etzt cascaroue dane
when the game WIS all played over